The Federalist [ audio ] Audio recordings of eighty-five essays, also known as the Federalist Papers, written between October 1787 and May 1788 by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. Various lengths and file sizes. From LibriVox.

A New System of Government [ video ] In A New System of Government, video 5 of the Biography of America series, Professor Pauline Maier discusses the creation of the Constitution. Produced by WGBH Boston in cooperation with the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration, and with the assistance of Instructional Resources Corporation. From Annenberg Media's Learner.org website. Registration and log-in required.

Address at Union Dinner [ audio ] An audio recording of Franklin Roosevelt's State of the Union address. By the American Presidency Project.

American History: Facts and Fiction of Boston Massacre [ video ] A video describing the Boston Massacre. Mentions the views of both sides and John Adams' role in the British soldiers' trial. Also discusses the qualities of good leaders. Briefly reviews the Proclamation Act (1763), the Stamp Act (1765), and the Tea Act (1773). Concludes with questions for discussion. From HowStuffWorks. Length: 5 min, 47 sec.

American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson [ audio ] A lecture by historian Joseph J. Ellis on the political beliefs of Thomas Jefferson and their possible application to 21st century life. Downloadable audio. A Historians on the Record podcast from the Gilder Lehrman Institute. Length: 23 min, 14 sec.

Anthony Lewis on First Amendment [ video ] Anthony Lewis, author of Freedom for the Thought We Hate, discusses the First Amendment with host Francesca Rheannon. A podcast from the Writer's Voice radio program. Length: 27 min., 19 sec.

Anthony Lewis on the First Amendment [ audio ] Anthony Lewis, author of Freedom for the Thought We Hate, discusses the First Amendment with host Francesca Rheannon. A podcast from the Writer's Voice radio program. Length: 27 min., 19 sec.

Causes Of War: The CSA [ video ] A video about the formation of the Confederate States of America. Includes arguments about the constitutional legitimacy of the CSA's secession. From HowStuffWorks. Length: 1 min., 49 sec.

Citizenship: Making Government Work [ video ] A video about democracy and the importance of civic engagement. From the Democracy in America video series. Produced in 2003 by the Educational Film Center. From Annenberg Media's Learner.org website. Registration and log-in required. Length: 57 min., 48 sec.

Exclusionary Rule I [ audio ] Part one of a series about the exclusionary rule. Discusses inevitable discovery and the independent source doctrines. From the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center of the Department of Homeland Security. Links to the DHS website. Size: 4.1 mb. Length: 10 min., 2 sec.

Exclusionary Rule II [ audio ] Part two of a series about the exclusionary rule. Discusses inevitable discovery and the independent source doctrines. From the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center of the Department of Homeland Security. Links to the DHS website. Size: 4.1 mb. Length: 10 min., 54 sec.

Execution of a Search Warrant I [ audio ] Part one of a series about the execution of search warrants. From the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center of the Department of Homeland Security. Links to the DHS website. Size: 2.4 mb. Length: 10 min., 18 sec.

Execution of a Search Warrant II [ audio ] Part two of a series about the execution of search warrants. From the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center of the Department of Homeland Security. Links to the DHS website. Size: 2.3 mb. Length: 10 min., 18 sec.

Federal Budget Allocation [ video ] An interactive animated presentation that introduces the concept of the federal budget. Students decide how to allocate a federal budget. Their allocations are compared to those of others. An interactive learning module from the Center on Congress at Indiana University. Page down to the bottom of the page and click on the "Federal Budget Allocation" icon.

Federalism [ video ] A video about the power of the federal government over state and local affairs. From the series The Constitution: That Delicate Balance. Produced in 1984 by Columbia University Seminars on Media and Society. From Annenberg Media's Learner.org website. Registration and log-in required.

Federalism: U.S. v. the States [ video ] A video about the tension between federal and state authority. From the Democracy in America video series. Produced in 2003 by the Educational Film Center. From Annenberg Media's Learner.org website. Registration and log-in required.

Free Speech Limitations [ audio ] A podcast explaining what briefly explaining the First Amendment and providing an example of when free expression can be limited by a private party. From the Legal Lad podcast, hosted by Michael Flynn. Links to the Legal Lad episode, where you can download the podcast or read a transcript. Contains advertising.

Introduction to the Fourth Amendment [ audio ] An introduction to the Fourth Amendment with a focus on search and seizure. Discussion of reasonable expectation of privacy, among other topics. From the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center of the Department of Homeland Security. Links to the DHS website. Size: 1.7 mb. Length: 7 min., 15 sec.

Judicial Review: Constitutional Interpretation [ video ] Part three of the Judicial Review series. Focuses on the "original intent" versus the "living constitution" methods of constitutional interpretation. This is referred to on pages 180-182 of the We the People text as "original intent or original history" versus "modernism or instrumentalism." From HowStuffWorks. Length: 1 min., 55 sec.

Miranda and the 5th Amendment [ audio ] An explanation of the Miranda rule and the Fifth Amendment. From the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center of the Department of Homeland Security. Links to the DHS website. Size: 6.2 mb. Length: 13 min., 36 sec.

Miranda Waivers and Invocation [ audio ] An explanation of Miranda waivers and invocation. From the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center of the Department of Homeland Security. Links to the DHS website. Size: 6.5 mb. Length: 13 min., 52 sec.

Our Constitution: A Conversation [ video ] In this video, Supreme Court justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Stephen Breyer discuss the importance of the Constitution and explain several basic principles of American constitutionalism. They answer student questions about separation of powers, the Court's modern relevance, federalism, liberty versus security, notable cases, decision-making in the Court. The link takes you to Annenberg's Sunnylands Classroom website, were the film can be watched in numerous file sizes, and where visitors can watch the film in numerous languages or read a transcript. Filmed in 2005. Length: 29 min., 7 sec.

Our Constitution: A Conversation [ video ] In this video, Supreme Court justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Stephen Breyer discuss the importance of the Constitution and explain several basic principles of American constitutionalism. They answer student questions about separation of powers, the Court's modern relevance, federalism, liberty versus security, notable cases, decision-making in the Court. The link takes you to Annenberg's Sunnylands Classroom website, were the film can be watched in numerous file sizes, and where visitors can watch the film in numerous languages or read a transcript. Filmed in 2005. Length: 29 min., 7 sec.

Our Constitution: A Conversation [ video ] In this video, Supreme Court justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Stephen Breyer discuss the importance of the Constitution and explain several basic principles of American constitutionalism. They answer student questions about separation of powers, the Court's modern relevance, federalism, liberty versus security, notable cases, and decision-making in the Court, among other topics. The link takes you to Annenberg's Sunnylands Classroom website, were the film can be watched in numerous file sizes, and where visitors can watch the film in numerous languages or read a transcript. Filmed in 2005. Length: 29 min., 7 sec.

Overview of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution [ video ] See how We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution can help young people become engaged and responsible citizens. Watch high school students explain their detailed knowledge of the Constitution and Bill of Rights during simulated congressional hearings at the We the People national finals.

Political Parties: Mobilizing Agents [ video ] Political Parties: Mobilizing Agents is the twelfth video of the Democracy in America series. Describes the role of political parties in the American political system. From Annenberg Media's Learner.org website. Produced by the Educational Film Center in 2003. Registration and log-in required. Length: 28 min., 28 sec.

Probable Cause I [ audio ] Part one of a series about probable cause. From the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center of the Department of Homeland Security. Links to the DHS website. Size: 2.0 mb. Length: 8 min., 49 sec.

Probable Cause II [ audio ] Part two of a series about probable cause. From the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center of the Department of Homeland Security. Links to the DHS website. Size: 1.9 mb. Length: 8 min., 7 sec.

Reasonable Expectation of Privacy I [ audio ] Part one of a series about the reasonable expectation of privacy under the Fourth Amendment. From the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center of the Department of Homeland Security. Links to the DHS website. Size: 2.1 mb. Length: 9 min., 4 sec.

Reasonable Expectation of Privacy II [ audio ] Part two of a series about the reasonable expectation of privacy under the Fourth Amendment. From the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center of the Department of Homeland Security. Links to the DHS website. Size: 2.1 mb. Length: 9 min., 1 sec.

Revolutionary Perspectives [ video ] Revolutionary Perspectives is a video hosted by Annenberg Media that discusses how the ideas of the Enlightenment influenced Americans and their desire for freedom. From the video series America's History in the Making. Registration and sign-in is required. Length: 28 min, 25 sec.

Search Warrants [ audio ] An explanation of the requirement for search warrants under the Fourth Amendment. From the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center of the Department of Homeland Security. Links to the DHS website. Size: 2.0 mb. Length: 8 min., 49 sec.

Senate [ video ] A short video about the role of Senate. From the Center on Congress at Indiana University.

The Constitution: Fixed or Flexible? [ video ] A video describing constitutional interpretation and the debate between Thomas Jefferson and James Madison over how and whether the Constitution should be amended. From the Democracy in America series. From Annenberg Media's Learner.org website. Produced by the Educational Film Center in 2003. Registration and log-in required. Length: 28 min., 30 sec.

The Constitution: Fixed or Flexible? [ video ] A video that examines whether the Constitution should be interpreted to meet the changing needs of the country. From Annenberg Media's Learner.org website. Registration and log-in required.

The Courts: Our Rule of Law [ video ] The Courts: Our Rule of Law is the fifth video of the Democracy in America series. Describes the state and federal court systems. From Annenberg Media's Learner.org website. Produced by the Educational Film Center in 2003. Registration and log-in required. Length: 28 min., 26 sec.

The Courts: Our Rule of Law [ video ] A video about the role of courts in the American system of government. From Annenberg Media's Learner.org website. Registration and log-in required.

The Fifth Virginia Convention [ video ] A discussion about the Virginia Declaration of Rights and its contribution to the Bill of Rights and American Constitution.
From the Colonial Williamsburg podcast at History.org.

The Fifth Virginia Convention [ audio ] A discussion about the Virginia Declaration of Rights and its contribution to the Bill of Rights and American Constitution. By the Colonial Williamsburg podcast.

The New Nation [ video ] The New Nation, a segment from the America's History in the Making video course, describes how America was shaped by the Revolutionary War. Produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting. Registration and log-in required. From Annenberg Media's Learner.org website. Length: 28 min., 25 sec.

We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution High School Hearing [ video ] After months of in-depth study, research, and preparation, We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution students display their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights in the program's culminating activity: a simulated congressional hearing. Students serve as expert witnesses on the country's founding principles and constitutional law and answer follow-up questions from a panel of judges. Watch this hearing from the We the People national finals in Washington, D.C., which draws the top classes from high school competitions in each state and the District of Columbia.